Split Acid-Base Streams to Improve AWL and Other Carbon Capture Reactors

Abstract

A reactor for enhanced and scalable CO2 sequestration and storage in water with neutral or near neutral pH outflow is described, along with a method of use thereof. The reactor and method are an AWL reactor and method that additionally employ an acid to enhance CO2 hydration kinetics, and, as such, the conversion of CO2 to bicarbonate ions for storage. In addition, the reactor and method employ a base, in an amount equimolar to the acid's amount, to directly capture any un-titrated aqueous CO2, and, as such, to convert even more CO2 to bicarbonate ions for robust storage, and also to neutralize the otherwise over-acidified effluent water stream being returned to the environment from the reactor.

1 . A reactor for CO 2  sequestration and storage in water, characterized by a neutral or near neutral pH outflow, at least comprising:
 a first chamber comprising:
 a reaction medium solid; 
 a gas inlet for delivering a gas stream comprising a CO 2  amount of CO 2  gas to the first chamber; 
 a water inlet for delivering a feedstock water characterized by a feedstock pH to the first chamber; 
 an acid inlet for delivering an acid amount of an acid to the first chamber; 
 a gas outlet for releasing an effluent gas from the first chamber; and 
 a first effluent outlet for releasing a first effluent, wherein the first effluent is the first chamber's liquid effluent; and 
   a second chamber, in fluid communication with the first chamber, wherein the second chamber at least comprises:
 an effluent inlet, in fluid communication with the first effluent outlet for delivering the first effluent to the second chamber; 
 a base inlet for delivering a base amount of a base to the second chamber;
 wherein the base amount is equimolar to the acid amount, and 
 
 a second effluent outlet for release of a second effluent, wherein the second effluent is the second chamber's and the reactor's liquid effluent. 
   
     
     
         2 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber is a fluidized bed reactor, and the first chamber further comprises a reaction medium solid inlet for delivering the reaction medium solid to the first chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber further comprises a CO 2  absorption sub-chamber and a CO 2  conversion sub-chamber connected in series via a connector for separate CO 2  absorption and conversion to bicarbonate. 
     
     
         4 . The reactor of  claim 3 , wherein
 the CO 2  absorption sub-chamber at least comprises:
 an implement for contacting gas and liquid phases, 
 the gas inlet, 
 the water inlet, 
 the gas outlet, 
 optionally, the acid inlet, and 
 an absorption effluent outlet for release of a CO 2 -enriched water from the CO 2  absorption sub-chamber; 
   the CO 2  conversion sub-chamber at least comprises:
 the reaction medium solid, 
 an absorption effluent inlet in fluid communication with the absorption effluent outlet of the CO 2  absorption sub-chamber, and 
 the first effluent outlet; and 
   the connector at least comprises the acid inlet.   
     
     
         5 . The reactor of  claim 4 , wherein the first chamber is a packed column reactor comprising: one or more packed columns connected in parallel, wherein each packed column is the CO 2  conversion sub-chamber; the CO 2  absorption sub-chamber; and a connector providing a fluid communication between the CO 2  absorption sub-chamber and each of the one or more packed columns. 
     
     
         6 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the feedstock water is water selected from the group consisting of: seawater, freshwater; and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of: a proton and an acid with pKa of <2. 
     
     
         8 . The reactor of  claim 7 , wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of: HCl, H 2 SO 4 , and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of: an OH −  ion and a base with pkb of >11. 
     
     
         10 . The reactor of  claim 9 , wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of: NaOH, KOH, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the acid is a proton, the base is a hydroxide ion, and the acid amount and the base amount are obtained and delivered to the first and the second chambers, correspondingly, form a water splitting process, wherein the water splitting process splits water into hydrogen and hydroxide ions. 
     
     
         12 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the acid amount and the base amount are up to 10% of the CO 2  amount. 
     
     
         13 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction medium solid comprises a material or reagent selected from the group consisting of: CaO; limestone and its various forms, including aragonite, calcite and vaterite; dolomite, Na 2 CO 3 , another carbonate; NaHCO 3 ; MgSiO 3 , olivine, pyroxene, mafic rock; another silicate; another material capable of sequestering CO 2 ; and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method for CO 2  sequestration and storage in water, characterized by a neutral or near neutral pH outflow, comprising:
 providing a reactor at least comprising:
 a first chamber comprising:
 a reaction medium solid; 
 a gas inlet for delivering a gas stream comprising a CO 2  amount of CO 2  gas to the first chamber; 
 a water inlet for delivering a feedstock water characterized by a feedstock pH to the first chamber; 
 an acid inlet for delivering an acid amount of an acid to the first chamber; 
 a gas outlet for releasing an effluent gas from the first chamber; and 
 a first effluent outlet for releasing a first effluent, wherein the first effluent is the first chamber's liquid effluent; and 
 
 a second chamber, in fluid communication with the first chamber, wherein the second chamber at least comprises:
 an effluent inlet, in fluid communication with the first effluent outlet for delivering the first effluent to the second chamber; 
 a base inlet for delivering a base amount of a base to the second chamber;
 wherein the base amount is equimolar to the acid amount, and 
 
 a second effluent outlet for release of a second effluent, wherein the second effluent is the second chamber's and the reactor's liquid effluent characterized by an effluent pH; 
 
 providing and delivering to the first chamber the gas stream, the feedstock water, and the acid; 
 providing and delivering to the second chamber the base; and replenishing the reaction medium solid as needed; and 
 flowing the feedstock water through the first chamber and the second chamber sequentially 
   to sequester and store CO 2  from the gas stream as bicarbonate ion, wherein the bicarbonate ion is released into the environment with the reactor's liquid effluent, and wherein the effluent pH is equal or near equal to the feedstock pH.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first chamber is a fluidized bed reactor, and the first chamber further comprises a reaction medium solid inlet for delivering the reaction medium solid to the first chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first chamber further comprises a CO 2  absorption sub-chamber and a CO 2  conversion sub-chamber connected in series via a connector for separate CO 2  absorption and conversion to bicarbonate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein
 the CO 2  absorption sub-chamber at least comprises:
 an implement for contacting gas and liquid phases, 
 the gas inlet, 
 the water inlet, 
 the gas outlet, 
 optionally, the acid inlet, and 
 an absorption effluent outlet for release of a CO 2 -enriched water from the CO 2  absorption sub-chamber; 
   the CO 2  conversion sub-chamber at least comprises:
 the reaction medium solid, 
 an absorption effluent inlet in fluid communication with the absorption effluent outlet of the CO 2  absorption sub-chamber, and 
 the first effluent outlet; and 
   the connector at least comprises the acid inlet.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first chamber is a packed column reactor comprising: one or more packed columns connected in parallel, wherein each packed column is the CO 2  conversion sub-chamber; the CO 2  absorption sub-chamber; and a connector providing a fluid communication between the CO 2  absorption sub-chamber and each of the one or more packed columns. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the feedstock water is selected from the group consisting of: seawater, freshwater, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of: a proton and an acid with pKa of <2. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of: an OH-ion and a base with pkb of >11. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the acid is a proton, the base is a hydroxide ion, and the acid amount and the base amount are obtained and delivered to the first and the second chambers, correspondingly, form a water splitting process, wherein the water splitting process splits water into hydrogen and hydroxide ions. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the acid amount and the base amount are up to 10% of the CO 2  amount. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the reaction medium solid comprises a material or reagent selected from the group consisting of: CaO; limestone and its various forms, including aragonite, calcite and vaterite; dolomite, Na 2 CO 3 , another carbonate; NaHCO 3 ; MgSiO 3 , olivine, pyroxene, mafic rock; another silicate; another material capable of sequestering CO 2 ; and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . A marine vessel capable of CO 2  sequestration and storage in water and characterized by a neutral or near neutral pH outflow, comprising:
 a reactor at least comprising:
 a first chamber comprising: 
 a reaction medium solid; 
 a gas inlet for delivering a gas stream comprising a CO 2  amount of CO 2  gas to the first chamber; 
 a water inlet for delivering a feedstock water characterized by a feedstock pH to the first chamber; 
 an acid inlet for delivering an acid amount of an acid to the first chamber; 
 a gas outlet for releasing an effluent gas from the first chamber; and 
 a first effluent outlet for releasing a first effluent, wherein the first effluent is the first chamber's liquid effluent; and 
   a second chamber, in fluid communication with the first chamber, wherein the second chamber at least comprises:
 an effluent inlet, in fluid communication with the first effluent outlet for delivering the first effluent to the second chamber; 
 a base inlet for delivering a base amount of a base to the second chamber;
 wherein the base amount is equimolar to the acid amount, and 
 
 a second effluent outlet for release of a second effluent, wherein the second effluent is the second chamber's and the reactor's liquid effluent. 
   
     
     
         26 . The marine vessel of  claim 25 , wherein a movement of the marine vessel across a body of water facilitates and promotes flowing of the feedstock water through the reactor, such that the marine vessel serves as a water pump.